The Guinness Book of World Records on Monday named 114-year-old Yone Minagawa as the world's oldest person after Emma Faust Tillman from the U.S. died. Tillman was also 114.

Hospital staff at the nursing home where Minagawa is living in Fukuchi, southern Japan, greeted her with a poster that read, "Congratulations, you're No. 1."

Minagawa was surprised at the greeting. "Number one? Who, me? My goodness, I'm really grateful," she said, breaking into a big smile.

Fukuchi Mayor Koji Urata accompanied hordes of well-wishers and members of the media in greeting Minagawa. The mayor said he plans to give the lady a special award.

Minagawa was born Jan. 4, 1893 and has four sons and a daughter whom she raised on her own by selling flowers and vegetables after her husband died. All her children are already dead.

But she has seven grandchildren, 12 great-grandchildren and two great-great-grandchildren, who visit her regularly.

Staff at the nursing home say the woman is still very active and has a healthy appetite. She moves around the building on her motorized wheelchair.

Even at her age, she still has an active social life and mingles with other residents at the nursing home. She even participates in the weekly sing-along.

Tachibana adds, "She has a sweet tooth, so we have to watch her, otherwise she reaches out for seconds and thirds. She is so youthful, it's hard to believe she is 114. Yone-san is our idol and a role model for other residents. We all hope to age like her."

Tillman, from Hartford, Connecticut, died Sunday, several days after assuming the title on January 24 following the death of 115-year-old Emiliano Mercado del Toro of Puerto Rico.